John Dumelo
UN appoints Dumelo as obstetric fistulae campaign ambassador

The Ministry of Health and United Nations Population Fund has endorsed Ghanaian actor/ Entrepreneur, John Dumelo as it’s Ghanaian ambassador for the ongoing Campaign to end Obstetric Fistulae at the Kimpenski Gold Coast City Hotel, Accra today, August 11, 2016.

Themed ‘Let’s end fistulae within this generation’; Obstetric Fistulae is a curable medical condition in which a hole develops between the vagina, rectum and or bladder as a result of prolonged labour during childbirth. This causes women to leak either urine or faeces or both.

According to the Minister of Health, Hon. Alex Segbefia; the actor was selected  as the ambassador due to his immense pleasure to support the course. He has accepted to reach out to various women without a doubtless support to raise funds and create awareness of this unknown yet existing medical condition, Obstetric Fistulae affect women during pregnancy and also help reduce maternal mortality.

DON’T MISS: Dr. Paa Kwesi Shows His Beast Cadillac 

In acceptance, John Dumelo said, “When I first learnt about OF, I was equally amazed about the fact this condition exists amongst women in Ghana. Its about time we help fix this problem, come together to create awareness and eradicate this problem in Ghana and then move on to other African countries.”

“In each case, we need an amount equivalent of $400.00/ $500.00 to the Ghana Cedis for each woman to undergo the surgeon successfully and some more to as well keep up the welfare of these women. About creating the awareness, we will as well extensively educate the men and the general public through skits, documentaries, etc.”

Concluding his acceptance speech with an unknown attributed quote, John Dumelo noted, “a woman is unstoppable after she realizes she deserves better. It is on this note that I declare my acceptance to lead this campaign.”

Tagged as Agenda 2030; the advocacy aim to  eliminate fistulae is key to ensuring that ‘No woman is left behind’.

According to an MoH/GHS statistics, about 1300 new cases occur every year in all ten regions of Ghana with the largest records from the Northern Region. There as well remain many unidentified women living with the condition.

A curable condition as stated, Medical Centres specialized in the treatment of Obstetric Fistulae include Mercy Women’s Catholic Hospital at Mankessim in the Central Region and Tamale Fistulae Centre, which was jointly commissioed by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection in 2009.

At the outdoor were the Acting Director General of Ghana Health, Dr Gloria Quansah Asare; Chief Director of Ministry of Health, Dr Afisah Samaria (John Appiah, delivered speech on her behalf); UNFPA Representative, Dr Babatunde Ahonsi; Surgeon from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Anyetei Lassey; and Actor Majid Michel,

Survivors of Obstetric Fistulae surgeons who were there to testify are Stella Akoriba Nuwuresi, and Cynthia Sinabisi, among other survivors are Bintu Mohammed, Fati Yahaya, Sarah Kade and Makida Nyariga.

There was a musical interlude by the Suade Cultural Academy.

Credits: AmaLarbieAfrica